What's the point? (1 Viewer)

TheDeckKing

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Now before I start. This is not me having a dig at anyone. It's just a question me and the missus keep coming back to in our quest for a MoHo.
Why do people buy a motorhome and then tow a car? If you want access to a car on your travels doesn't it make more sense to just buy a caravan instead?
 
Feb 16, 2013
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Now before I start. This is not me having a dig at anyone. It's just a question me and the missus keep coming back to in our quest for a MoHo.
Why do people buy a motorhome and then tow a car? If you want access to a car on your travels doesn't it make more sense to just buy a caravan instead?
Couldn't agree more, but I suppose it's size, we can get more or less anywhere with ours, but there's only the two of us, and if you have a family and need a bigger van there's only two choices , tow a car or get a caravan, but a caravan is a distinct disadvantage if you are thinking of going to France.
 
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signworks

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We tow a car as we like discover the area we go to and with all the height barriers and access in a lot of places not easy to park the van plus we use our tow car at home every day as our daily car less tax and insurance and if we had a caravan we would need a big 4x4 to pull it also it's a lot easy to tow a car than a caravan as it as four wheel in each corner

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Puddleduck

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I can see if a campsite is a long way out and you want to explore without taking the van then a small car might be useful. On the other hand using cycles and public transport is fun and anyway I hate towing anything.

Having had a huge 7.5 tonne thing in the past I can see why a small car would have been an advantage as once settled on site you only wanted to move the beast when moving sites and with (sometimes) 4 adults and 6 kids shopping for a single meal was heavy work. We could have had a minibus and caravan but tried that once and the kayaks got in the way when turning some corners (sea kayaks are looooong).

Each to their own preference - ours was and is a motorhome without a toad - but nothing wrong with toads if you want one. It depends how you use the motorhome, how fit / active you are and personal preference.
 
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i guess the answer to the OP's question is a bit like asking ......

Why do people drive Mercs, BMW, soft roaders etc etc, when a perfectly good KIA or Hyundai would serve the same purpose.

its all about freedom of choice and what the individual / couple want from their travel experience.

i dont tow a TOAD, but can see the benefits on occasions, will i ever tow a TOAD? depends "what whim i take on or feel next week" or if my ability to get about is compromised at some stage.
 
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mariner

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Now before I start. This is not me having a dig at anyone. It's just a question me and the missus keep coming back to in our quest for a MoHo.
Why do people buy a motorhome and then tow a car? If you want access to a car on your travels doesn't it make more sense to just buy a caravan instead?


I have to agree. Towing modern caravans with a modern car is a doddle compared to years ago.

I made the choice to go back to tugging and you can get much more for your money compared to the cost of a MH and Toad.

I have a fixed bed caravan with as much room in it as most £40k to £60k motorhomes and pull it with a C Class Mercedes, all for much less than I got, when I sold my MH.

:cooler:

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Mousy

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Ours is 6.4 mts long, so ok for exploring most areas and we tend not to stay more than 1/2 nights but I'm tempted to whack a smart car or similar on the back. We'd have the ease of set up with the Moho and car for nipping off. At wild mans place in ilfracombe we had access to a car as our sons joined us, it proved invaluable there.
 
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Chris

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It's personal choice surely.

We don't pull anything, but I probably would if I could work out if A frames are legal or not.

Any views on that?

:getmecoat:
 
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I have to agree. Towing modern caravans with a modern car is a doddle compared to years ago.

I made the choice to go back to tugging and you can get much more for your money compared to the cost of a MH and Toad.

I have a fixed bed caravan with as much room in it as most £40k to £60k motorhomes and pull it with a C Class Mercedes, all for much less than I got, when I sold my MH.

:cooler:
Do you know I actually agree with you, never even considered a caravan since having mhs and still wouldn't but had a look around don amots at the weekend, and just happened to have a look in the caravans, major difference since I had anything to do with them, strange though not seeing a steering wheel in there, but for the price, about 18 grand compared with 40 odd, it's really something to think about, but as I said , we do nearly all our holidaying in France and a caravan would be totally useless for what we do.
 
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Feb 16, 2013
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Come to that a toad would be useless for what we do as well

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mariner

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Come to that a toad would be useless for what we do as well

I had a great time with different MHs, wandering around Europe, sometimes free camping, sometimes on sites it just, depended where I was and how I felt.
Used Aires, Stellplatz, etc, but things change and so do needs.
I just locate an ACSI site and I'm sorted.
I do still like to use public transport as (unlike the UK) it's often very cheap.

:cooler:
 
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PP Bear

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Horses for courses and each to their own I guess :)

There's no way I'd get the same smug, relaxed feeling pulling a van, than I get when I'm sat in the motorhome, arm rests down, cruising along in chilled mode and chatting away nicely to Di when she's with me :)

Thing I find alarming in this day and age, is the incredible high speeds that folk like to tow their caravans at, even the family cars with the tiny trailers on seem to be happy to do Mach 10 and all the while the tiny trailer is bouncing along behind. Wonder if any of them realise the temp buildup they're producing in the tiny tyres :Eeek:

A30 on way to Cornwall a few weeks ago and the tiniest Renault came whizzing past me (I was doing 60mph, but may as well been going backwards) with a large caravan on tow, only to jack it a few miles ahead and plough into the grass bank. 2 adults and 2 young girls all sat on the side shaken up, frightened, but uninjured thank goodness :)

Nope it's a m/h for me all the way thanks and when I get somewhere I usually cycle, walk, or do something really old fashioned, but saves the planet, and that's get public transport as it's really not that bad :notworthy2::clap2:
 
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It's personal choice surely.

We don't pull anything, but I probably would if I could work out if A frames are legal or not.

Any views on that?

:getmecoat:
And there was me thinking all lawyers did.......only because of the generic term most folk use in reference to the learned law peeps obviously:whistle:

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hilldweller

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Now before I start. This is not me having a dig at anyone. It's just a question me and the missus keep coming back to in our quest for a MoHo.
Why do people buy a motorhome and then tow a car? If you want access to a car on your travels doesn't it make more sense to just buy a caravan instead?


Yes.
 
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Badknee

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Living the dream.
We sold our caravan last year after dragging it kicking and screaming down to Sicily, hell fire it was hard work. The whole continent seems to be set up for MH's and set up very well.
 
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It's personal choice surely.

We don't pull anything, but I probably would if I could work out if A frames are legal or not.

Any views on that?

:getmecoat:
It doesn't matter if you use a trailer. To set up a "legal" A-frame costs about the same as a trailer - so why bother? The trailer has other uses too. I've just returned from three weeks away and for the first time we took our Smart on a trailer (thanks Snowbird (y)). I wasn't concerned about towing but I wondered whether the hassle of loading / unloading would be more trouble than it's worth. Well - it wasn't. It takes less than 5 minutes to do either including tying down / untying. Most improved experience was not having to shop as we travelled - just arrive, pitch, then when convenient pop down to the local supermarket in the Smart. Unseen advantages include putting the awning & table (and other stuff you might purchase on your travels) in the car rather than the MH. We use CLs / CSs a fair bit and on most the trailer can be left attached to the MH - even more convenient.

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iceni

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What you have to think of is...
If there was no point then people wouldnt do it.
I think we all have to make our own choices and what seems pointless to some will seem like the perfect combination to others. Otherwise we would all have the same vans or at least the same layouts.

Caravan. Other than the inferior driving position and aerodynamics compared to a MH with toad
Arrive at site. unhitch caravan wind down steadies unload stuff from inside the van eg tables and chairs etc etc, go get water, fit aquarolls. put up awning.

MH
Arrive on site pitch van Pitch car. kettle on

I havent got one by the way but understand why people do have them..
 
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Or another question:
Why do folk with motorhomes tow a caravan ? Or is that a bit like extending a house ? :)
 
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It's personal choice surely.

We don't pull anything, but I probably would if I could work out if A frames are legal or not.

Any views on that?

:getmecoat:
Been looking into the exact same this week, and have ended up more confused than when I started :banghead:

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DJA

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Few buy Motorhome just because they are more expensive and they think it enhances their image. Many were previously caravanners often from an early age and love the freedom that either genre provides.

If they have done their homework many are likely to have switched from caravanning or just gone straight to a Motorhome as they perceive it better meets their needs especially with the Aires system throughout Europe. Having gone down the motorhome route they may or will have considered whether a runabout as a benefit.

Having bought a motorhome they often just need a small car to use as a runabout for the rest of the year. Should they have a caravan then they need a larger vehicle for tugging and then that is a less economic runabout. Based on some cars used as tuggers their annual tax can nearly be as much as that for a van and small car. There is the outlay for a trailer or “A” frame setup which you can consider as part of motorhomings costs. The trailer has a resale value and any shortfall will be covered by the time that would have to be spent on campsites if caravanning particularly whilst abroad.

Generally cars are towed for particular reasons.

1 One or more of the motorhome occupants are unable to use cycles and or public transport and consider that a Motorhome is an easier vehicle for them to use than a caravan and meets their touring desires better. They need to be able to get around and not be restricted to wherever the van is

2 For some who think a motorhome best meets their needs and cycles or public transport may be useable options the occupants just prefer the convenience of a car.

3 They think availability of a car means the number and locations of places to visit can be significantly increased particularly where the other mentioned options are not feasible or available.

4 When Motorhomers are intending to stay on individual sites for long periods of time which means that without a car they would have to consider the need to use the Van as a runabout. They may think it is not sensible with the problems of parking, height barriers and access to places they want to visit.

We are about to go to France for 3 weeks, the Mayor of Calais permitting, and have no intention of taking a car. Our stops at Aires and possibly Campsites are going to be brief and they are all convenient by foot from the places we want to visit. Such a trip with a Caravan would not be as easy. When we go to Spain for the winter the motorhome is a convenient mode of transport via Aires even although they may not have water because of the cold they are recognised places to stop. Once in Spain we stop on Campsites for extended periods and travel all around the area. Cycles are not an option and public transport whilst good does not meet all our needs. The decision is take a car or hire one when we get there and we have done both.

Altogether it is individual choice and largely relates to how they intend to use their leisure time and the tools they think fits their needs on particular trips whilst deciding a motorhome fits best their overall needs..
 
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TheDeckKing

TheDeckKing

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It's all starting to make a bit more sense to me. As an "outsider" it always seemed a bit odd to be taking 2 vehicles with you. Is it easy using Aires on the continent even with a trailer or does this limit which ones you can use?
 
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DJA

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Regarding using Aires whilst towing it has not been a problem for us. Bear in mind Aires are not supposed to be long period stopping places.

If the Aire is busy usually you can disconnect the A frame and park the car near by. With a Trailer the same if you have th emeans to lock the trailer hitch.

We have only used the Aires when towing as a stop on the way to a destination. We have seen the odd Motorhome with an A frame or Trailer at an Aire but generally when in for example France the Aires are so convenient that a runabout is not needed.

Take Honfleur for example. The Aire is about 3/400 yards from the centre of the town and there is a Supermarket as near.. It is said to take 125 but I would not be surprised to find nearly double that there. So unless it is totally rammed there would be space to park with a Trailer.

Regarding "Is it easy to use Aires". Thats what they are designed for. A designated place to park a motorhome. What more would you ask for here. The first we ever stayed at was Free and in a village called Pomarez. The Aire is within a car park at the centre of the village surrounded by a the odd shop, Sports Hall, Primary School and Bull Ring. It had free electric for the 12 vans the area was designed for as well as water and disposal facilities. There was a Carrefor equivalent of a Tesco Express and a very good pharmacy. We ahve been using Aires ever since.
 
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tambo

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I tried one for a while and for me it didn't work .....all the stress of toeing a caravan returned and to be honest anywhere I did use the car I could have got to with the van if I hadn't been towing the car.

I think if your a motorhomer who goes to a site then stays there for days the car is a good idea but like you I don't see why that's better than a caravan but each to their own

I sold mine and bought a scooter instead which is fantastic ......no hassle of towing and unaware its there but gives us freedom to nip in to towns etc if we've parked somewhere nice ......but I mostly wild camp and move daily.

Different people use them for different things ......you'll never understand all of them

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DJA

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Hi Tambo

I totally agree with your comments and would add that I think a motorbike drawn on one of the specialist trailers that holds the bike across the rear of the van is an excellent idea.

In my own case I could not cope with the reaction if I was to suggest that idea as:

1 I have never owned a motorbike

2 SWMBO has never been on one and would have on intention of starting now

Brave I may be but suicidal I am not.
 
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haganap

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I'm an oldbie MH number 9
I have an a framed car....sometimes i use it sometimes I don't...In fact some my son passed his driving test i haven't got to use it at all...

Sometimes if im running a race somewhere i might find a nice CL which could be 4 or 5 miles away from the start..As I have a big van as we host a lot of wild parties when I'm not running is difficult to park at the limited parking.
Therfore I find a car handy to take..It takes no time set up you never know it's there till I check the camera and the laSt thing i want to do after running a 30-50 mile ultra race is run another 5 miles to the van..

So in the words of my earlier reply

I do it because I can

If i couldn't i wouldn't.

Its my choice.

Some people like RVs some don't some like lager some prefer bitter
 
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tambo

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Hi Tambo

I totally agree with your comments and would add that I think a motorbike drawn on one of the specialist trailers that holds the bike across the rear of the van is an excellent idea.

In my own case I could not cope with the reaction if I was to suggest that idea as:

1 I have never owned a motorbike

2 SWMBO has never been on one and would have on intention of starting now

Brave I may be but suicidal I am not.
Yeah I'd never ridden a motorbike before either ....first time on it just the other weekend .....its only a little 50cc so only does 30mph but does us for what we need it for
 
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